Combined spectacle and utility case



Nov. 7, 1950 c. F. CAMERON COMBINED SPECTACLE AND UTILITY CASE Filed Sept. 1'7, 1948 1 14 2 %%W I 197'? dR/VIXS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 COMBINED SPECTACLE AND UTILITY CASE Carl F. Cameron, Marcellus, Mich. Application September 17, 1948, Serial No. 49,741

My invention relates to combined spectacle and utility cases, wherein a pair of spectacles may be carried in one compartment of the case and wherein there is provided a second compartment adapted for general utility and for the carrying of small pocket articles. With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved combined spectacle and utility case of the class described.

A further object is to provide an improved com-- bined spectacle and utility case including top and bottom openings closed by separate closures and wherein a substantially horizontally-disposed partition divides the'case into upper and lower compartments accessible respectively through the top and bottom openings.

A further object is to provide an improved combined spectacle and utility case such asthat last described, and wherein the case isv of symmetrical configuration and wherein said closures are of different configuration whereby to distinguish the compartments from each other.

A further object is to provide an improved combined spectacle and utility case including upper and lower compartments accessible through upper and lower openingsformed in the case, said openings being closed by upper and lower closures, and wherein novel means are provided for forming finger grips on the closures for facilitating the opening and closing of the same.

A further object is to provide an improved combined spectacle and utility case which includes upper and lower compartments- 1 through upper and lower openings closed by up er and lower closures, and wherein one of said openings is of restricted size to prevent the insertion of spectacles therethrough.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specifi-' cation, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the case according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view 7 2 Claims; (01. 2066) accessible like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, [0 designates generally any symmetrical hollow case which is preferably formed of metal or plastic,

or like substantially rigid material, whereby to protect the contents of the case against breakage. In the form illustrated, the case is substantially rectangular in plan and of generally oval configuration in elevation and end view. The case 10 includes a top wall II, and a bottom wall l2 formed respectively with access openings [3 and I4, which openings are closed by closures I5 and I6, respectively. The closure I5 is hingedly'connected to the rear wall ll of the case by any suitable hinge means, such as the piano hinge l9. s In like manner, the closure I6 is hingedly connected to the front wall l8 of the case by any I suitable means such as the piano hinge 20. It should be noted, likewise, that the top closure I5 includes a finger piece 2I extending slightly beyond the right-hand end Wall 23, while the bot tom closure I6 includes an integral finger grip 22, extending slightly beyond the left-hand end wall 24. The case I0 is divided interiorly into upper and lower compartments 25 and 26, respec-: tively, by a horizontal partition 30, and it should be noted that the access openings l3 and I4, re-

spectively, for the upper and lower compartments are of difierent shapes. Thus, the access opening [3 is of a restricted character to prevent the insertion of a pair of spectacles therein, while the access opening l4 for the lower compartment 26 is substantially large to permit the insertion of a pair of spectacles into the lower compartment. Thus, there is little danger of the spectacles being placed in the wrong compartment, whereby the same may be protected against dust and dirt which would be likely to accumulate in the upper compartment 25 in view of the miscellaneous articles adapted to be contained therein. Likewise, it should be noted that the free edge portion of the upper closure I5 is formed, as at 21, of a different configuration than is the corresponding edge portion 28 of the lower closure I6. Thus, the user. of the device, despite the symmetry of the same, can readily distinguish the top from thebottom even in the dark by the configuration of the two closures. The finger grips 2| and 22 provide ready means for opening the closures I5 and I6. In this connection, it is understood that the hinges I9 and 20 are of the type commonly found in rigid spectacle cases whereby they in clude springs, not shown, holding the closures to both an open and a closed position. As is well known in spectacle cases, such springs operate past a dead center, whereby to load the closures to either position, after the same have been opened or closed beyond the dead center.

The partition 30 is provided with downwardlydirected free edges 32 and 3| secured to the rear and front walls [1 and [8. Also, it should be noted that the rear edge portion 33 of the partition 30 is upwardly directed so that articles resting thereon Will normally be slid downwardly toward the'front wall 18 into the pocket 35 formed by the'inwardly-directed free edge 36 of the top wall I l.

While I have shown and described a particular shape of the case, together with particular shapes of the covers or closures l5 and IE, it should be understood that the same are susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. A combined spectacle and utility casecomprising a hollow casing of elongated symmetrical shape formed with a relatively small access openingin its top displaced toward one end of said casing and a relatively large opening in its bottom. centered with respect to the sides and ends of the case, apartition dividing the interior of said casing into upper and lower compartments reached through said access openings, an upper closure hinged along one side of said casing, said upper closure being relatively small and having a truncated end terminating in spaced relation to the end of said casing from which the top access opening is displaced and exposing a substantial area of the top of said casing, a lower closure hinged along the opposite side of said casing, said lower closure bein relatively large and centered with respect to the sides and ends of saidcasing and substantially covering the bottom of the casing, the end of said upper closure remote from said truncated end projecting beyond the adjacent end of the casing and said lower closure having an end projecting beyond .the opposite end of said casing, said. projecting closureends serving as finger grips for selectively opening said closures.

2. A combined spectacle and utility case comprising a hollow casing of elongated symmetrical shape formed with a relatively small access opening in its top displaced toward one end of said casing and a, relatively large opening in its bottom centered with respect to the sides and ends of the case, a partition dividing the interior of said easing into upper and lower compartments reached through said access openings, an upper closure hingedalong one'side'lof saidcasing, said upper closure being relatively small and having a truncated end terminating in spaced relation to the end of said casing from which the top accessopening is displaced and exposing a substantial area of the top of said casing, a lower closure hinged alon the opposite side of said casing, said lower closure being relatively large and centered with respect to the sides and ends of saidcasing and substantially covering the bottom of the casing, the end of said upper closure remote from said truncatediend projecting beyond theadjacent end of the casingand said lower,clo-.

sure having an end projecting beyond the opposite f end of i said casing, said projecting closure ends serving as finger gripsv for selectively openin said,

closures, the area of the casing top exposed at the-truncated end of said upper closureand said truncated end of the upper closure serving to distinguish said upper closure from said lower.

closure, in a manner enabling differentiation of said closure's'by touch alone.

CARL F. CAM'ERON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 21, 1935 

